Top Fuel driver Spencer Massey earned the qualifying lead and won the inaugural $100,000 NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout during Saturday’s action at the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Massey set low E.T. of the weekend during the third qualifying session of the weekend, which also happened to be the second round of the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout, a special $100,000 bonus race within a race.

“For Traxxas to come into our sport and put up this much money and add these two bonus races is awesome,” said Massey, driver of the FRAM/Prestone dragster fielded by Don Schumacher Racing. “I can’t believe that we won it. We’ve wanted to win it since we qualified when we won the season-opener. It’s been a lot of pressure this week but it’s been awesome to be able to say we won the first Traxxas Nitro Shootout.”

Massey’s 3.762-second 1,000-foot pass at 324.51 mph wasn’t only good enough to advance to the final round of the shootout, it also gave him the provisional Top Fuel lead heading into Sunday. Massey outran fellow Texas-native Steve Torrence in the final round of the shootout to earn the win.

“Torrence’s car has been running on a string all year long and I know he wanted to win this thing just as much as I did,” Massey said. “When I hit the throttle the car started moving and I knew I was on a good ride. Then I crossed the finish line and saw the win light and I couldn’t believe it. I’m so proud of my guys _ they deserve this win.”

If Massey holds onto the No. 1 position through Sunday’s qualifying action it will be his fourth of the season and seventh of his career.

Meanwhile, the Funny Car NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout is scheduled for Sunday with first round set for 12:30 p.m.

Force posted a career-best ET of 4.049-seconds for 1,000-feet at 317.27 mph to earn the first provisional qualifying lead of her career during Saturday’s final qualifying session.

“I have all the faith in the world in my guys,” said Force, driver of the Traxxas Ford Mustang fielded by John Force Racing. “They’ve been working hard all season and to get a career-best at Indy, it’s huge. This is the one track that you want to say it at, and it’s pretty cool that it’s ‘The Big Go’ and it’s my career- best, an awesome time. So we’re excited.”

If Force holds onto the top spot through Sunday’s qualifying, it will be the first pro pole of her career.

Pro Stock qualifying was called early due to weather, so Enders held onto the qualifying lead thanks to her 6.624-second quarter-mile pass at 208.84 mph from Friday evening.

“It has been a really long day,” said Enders, driver of the KLR Group Chevrolet Cobalt fielded by Victor Cagnazzi. “We had been changing our setup back-and-forth. We thought we were going to run once, and then it started with the rain. And every time the weather comes in and things change, we have to re-assess our setup and go back and change everything. It’s a tough time, but we went out and made a pretty good run early in the day and were able to keep the No. 1 spot, and that’s exciting.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying also was cut short, and Hines held onto the top spot with his Friday pass of 6.928-seconds at 194.21 mph over the full quarter-mile.

“Given the weather, I don’t think we could have run any quicker, but it would have been nice to get the data,” said Hines, rider of the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod fielded by Vance & Hines Racing. “I don’t know what’s going to happen (Sunday) but I think we can keep the top spot. If it’s slow, we’re safe and if the conditions get better, we should be able to pick up. Our last run could have been better so we know there’s more left.”

Saturday’s results after the first three of five rounds of qualifying for the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, 17th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Sunday for Monday’s final eliminations.

Racin’ Today – Quote from John Force

“I’m excited to see writers like Jim Pedley, John Sturbin, Rick Minter, and Bill Fleischman, guys who have written about me, working together at www.racintoday.com. The internet is huge and it is giving talented guys like these professionals a place to get their stories out to our fans and the public. The media is changing and I am excited to see writers that have covered me and all of motorsports creating a new way to get our stories to our fans. They can take motorsports journalism to the next level. I’ve dealt with these guys for over 15 years all across the country.”

“As an example of the character of these guys, when Sturbin was with the Ft. Worth Star Telegram and I was racing at the Texas Motorplex, one of my favorite tracks he showed how he is an individual who gets it. He understands the sport and the drivers. Years ago I ran my mouth at the Texas Motorplex saying I was going to go out and set a record and if I didn’t I would eat his newspaper column. Well I didn’t set the record so I went into the press room and ate his column the next day. He told before I started that I didn’t have to follow through but I told him if I say something I am going to back it up whether I win or lose. That is the kind of pro Sturbin is as well as the rest of the writers at racintoday.com are. They will write the truth whether you like it or not.”

“You better not blame something on your car because Sturbin will dig and find out whether or not it was the car or you. He gets down in the trenches, tells the truth, and he knows what he is talking about. I am excited for these writers and this new website because I have always loved the media and I know that without the media you don’t have much. You have to be able to tell your story and get it right. These guys are guys who will make sure they get it right.” - JOHN FORCE